236 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



SPINAL TUMORS. 



Within the substance of the cord glioma or the mixed gliosarco- 

 mata are found to be the most frequent, tumors may form from the 

 meninges and the vertebrse, being of a fibrous or bony nature, and 

 affect the spinal cord indirectly by compression. In the meninges 

 we may find glioma, cancers, and psammoma, fibromata; aneurisms 

 of the spinal arteries have been discovered in the spinal canal. 



SymptOTns. — Tumors of the spinal canal cause symptoms of spinal 

 irritation or compression of the cord. The gradual and slow de- 

 velopment of symptoms of paralysis of one or both hind limbs or 

 certain muscles may lead to a suspicion of spinal tumors. The par- 

 alysis induced is progressive, but not usually marked with atrophy 

 of the muscles or increased sensibility along the spine. When the 

 tumor is within the spinal cord itself all the symptoms of myelitis 

 may be present. 



TreatTnent. — General tonics and 1-dram doses of nux vomica may 

 be given ; iodid of iron or iodid of potassium in 1-dram doses, three 

 times a day in feed, may, in a very few cases, give some temporary 

 benefit. Usually the disease progresses steadily until it proves fatal. 



NEURITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF A NERVE. 



This is caused by a bruise or wound of a nerve or by strangulation 

 in a ligature when the nerve is included in the ligation of an artery. 

 The changes in an inflamed nerve are an enlargement, reddening of 

 the nerve sheath, spots of extravasated blood, and sometimes an infil- 

 tration of serum mixed with pus. 



Symptoms. — Acute pain of the parts supplied by the nerve and 

 absence of swelling or increased heat of the part. 



Treatment. — Hypodermic injections of from 3 to 5 grains of mor- 

 phia to relieve pain, hot fomentations, and rest. If it is due to an 

 inclusion of a ligature, the nerve should be divided above and below 

 the ligature. 



NEUROMA, OR TUMOR OF A NERVE. 



Neuroma may be from enlargement of the end of a divided nerve 

 or due to fibrous degeneration of a nerve which has been bruised or 

 wounded. Its most frequent occurrence is found after the operation 

 of neurotomy for foot lameness, and it may appear after the lapse of 

 months or even years. Neuroma usually develops within the sheath 

 of the nerve with or without implicating the nerve fibers. It is oval, 

 running lengthwise with the direction of the nerve. 



Symftoms. — Pain of the affected limb or part is manifested, more 

 especially after resting a while, and when pressure is made upon the 

 tumor it causes extreme suffering. 



